AN Australian who was behind bars in Bali for a year after sharing a marijuana joint on the beach has been freed from prison.
Townsville’s Nicholas Langan, 25, was initially charged with drug possession, which carries a maximum 12 years’ jail, after the arrest at Canggu in January last year.
Kerobokan Jail official Wayan Sutresna said Langan was released 15 days early after receiving a remission on Christmas for good behaviour.
“Nicholas have shown good behaviour during in prison. He active in many prison activities,” Mr Sutresna said.
“He mostly active on futsal activity with other prisoners.”
Futsal is a form a soccer played with five players on each side.
Ngurah Rai Immigration official, Hermansyah, said Langan will be deported back to Australia after an administrative examination is completed.
“Based on the law, all foreign prisoner that released from jail must be deported to their country,” Hermansyah said.
“We also include him in the black list, so that he can not come back to Indonesia.”
Langan will be on the black list for at least six months. The ban could be extended by immigration.
He was in prison after being sentenced to one years’ jail for drug use, after giving a long apology at his trial.
He told the court he had a history of marijuana addiction that he was trying to beat.
Langan didn’t speak to reporters when he left Kerobokan jail on Tuesday.
His arrest came as relations with Indonesia were under strain from efforts to save Sydney men Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan from the firing squad.
A security guard had tipped off police when he spotted Langan smoking the joint with Hanung Pekik Hermantoro, 25, a driver for The Green Room Villas, who was also jailed.
Langan refused to comment to News Corp Australia.
Australian, Nicholas Langan, freed from Bali prison for smoking joint